Toure: The finishing touches were pivotal
Kolo Toure admitted that the difference in finishing touch proved crucial in a closely-fought contest that ended in a 3-0 defeat for Liverpool at Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds started brightly at Old Trafford and could have grasped an advantage through Raheem Sterling before the hosts stormed to the other end and Wayne Rooney opened the scoring.
Back came the visitors and Sterling worked David De Gea at his near post in search of a riposte, while Alberto Moreno was a more assured touch away from bearing down on the goalkeeper.
Offside appeals did not prevent Juan Mata from doubling the lead for Louis van Gaal's team with five minutes remaining in the half, prompting Brendan Rodgers to introduce Mario Balotelli.
The Italian must have expected to reduce the arrears when he swept a blast at De Gea, yet the stopper pushed the ball onto the crossbar. Robin van Persie quickly settled the tie with a third.
It left Rodgers and his players to rue the opportunities they had squandered, with Toure explaining after the final whistle why the identity of the deadlock-breakers is pivotal in big games.
"The first goal is very important," the defender told Liverpoolfc.com. "We were the better team at the start of the game; we put them under a lot of pressure and they were shaky at the back.
"But we didn't score the chances we had. When they scored, everything changed. The second goal was offside and made the game more difficult. In the second half, we played better and created some chances but didn't score them.
"They got the third goal on the counter-attack, which finished the game. We played a good game, but a lack of goals meant we left with no points. At the same time, defensively we could have done better on the goals we conceded.
"We created some chances and we were playing strong football going forward. We just need to keep going like that and goals will definitely come. The effort we put in is the most important thing - give 100 per cent, fight and work hard.
"As a team, the most important thing is that we stick together. We will work hard in training and there is another game coming. We'll give 100 per cent to win in the Capital One Cup and we're going to be better."
Thoughts and focus must now immediately switch to that Capital One Cup quarter-final against Bournemouth on Wednesday evening, with a tough assignment guaranteed at the Goldsands Stadium.
Toure insisted that the meeting with the high-flying Championship outfit takes on even greater importance following the Reds' frustrating elimination from the Champions League last week too.
"It is a very important game for us and we'll give all we have got to win it," said the No.4, who took to the field at Old Trafford as a substitute midway through the first half. "Every game is really important for us.
"We can go really far in the Capital One Cup and it's very important to win a trophy. What we need to do is be focused, believe in yourself and work hard in training.
"Tough times come and go, and this will go. Last season was a great season and this season is more difficult, but a good team always comes back from a difficult time."